Toy



Dec. 14, 1937. J, 5 RICHARDS 2,102,335

' TOY- Filed Feb. 17, 1936 Patented Dec. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE j 10 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in toys and has for its primary object the provision of an improved mechanical toy so constructed and arranged as to have lifelike movements imparted thereto by movement over a floor or the like.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which- Fig. l is a side view of the body of a toy embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 an enlarged section taken substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 a smaller view corresponding with Fig. 3, but showing a slightly modified form of construction.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a body member l preferably formed of wood in the outline of a duck or the like as shown. An axle H, also preferably of wood, is mounted to extend laterally through the lower portion of the body l0 and has Wheels I2, also preferably of wood, eccentrically fixed to the ends thereo in opposed relation.

Each of the wheels 12 has a flexible flap l3, preferably of rubber, fixed to the periphery thereof.

Each of the flaps l3 comprises a narrow portion secured to the periphery of the wheel and a broader portion roughly in the outline of the webbed foot of a duck and ornamented accordingly as shown. A suitable handle member I4 is provided by means of which the toy may be propelled over a fioor or the like.

As the Wheels l2 revolve during such propulsion, the flaps l3 will be periodically thrown forward to rest upon the floor in front of the wheels and thereby will closely represent, from above, the appearance of a duck walking. As will be noted, each fiap is secured to its corresponding wheel at the point of the periphery closest to the axle so that at the time the flap is thrown forward that side of the duck body is depressed and the other side elevated, whereby a wobbling motion is imparted to the duck body closely simulating the wobbling motion of an actual duck in walking. It is also to be noted that there is a slight looseness provided in the bearing for the axle II in the body member l0, which looseness also tends to accentuate this wobbling motion.

Flexible members l5 are secured to the upper portion of the body member ill to project laterally from the sides thereof to cover and more or less conceal the wheel members l2 from above. These flexible members are preferably formed, as indicated, from a single sheet of rubber shaped to imitate the partial spread wings of a. duck and correspondingly ornamented as indicated. In order to provide convenient means for securing the flexible members IS in place, the upper portion of the body I0 is provided with a longitudinal slot into which the central portionof the flexible members is inserted and properly secured. As will be noted, especially from an examination of Fig. 3, the arrangementis such that as each wheel revolves, its high spot, or point of the periphery farthest from the center of the axle H, intermittently contacts with and rubs against the underside of the corresponding wing member I5, thereby imparting a lifelike movement thereto. Also as each fiap I3 revolves, its free end is thrown into contact with the corresponding wing member, further imparting lifelike movement thereto. In this manner an attractive and amusing toy for children may be readily constructed from comparatively inexpensive materials. The specific form and arrangement of parts constitutes a simple and effective one for the purpose.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 4, the wheels l2 are shown as concentrically mounted on the axle II and of a size so that the flaps I3 will strike the undersides of the wing members l5 during movements of the toy and thereby impart lifelike movements to the wing members, although not quite so pronounced as is imparted by the eccentricity of the wheels as indicated in Fig. 3. Otherwise the construction is the same as that illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying the invention into eilect, this, is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details disclosed, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A toy of the class described comprising a body member; movable members projecting from the sides thereof; and wheels on the sides of said body member arranged to contact with and rub against the undersides of said movable members -to impart lifelike movements thereto.

arranged to contact with and rub against the undersides of said movable members to impart lifelike movements thereto.

3. A toy of the class described comprising a body member; movable members projecting from the sides thereof; wheels on the sides of said body member arranged to contact with and rub against the undersides of said movable members to impart lifelike movements thereto; and flexible flaps on said wheels arranged to be thrown forward periodically as the wheels revolve.

4. A toy of the class described comprising a body member; flexible movable members projecting from the sides thereof; wheels eccentrlcally mounted on the sides of said body member arranged to contact with and rub against the undersides of said movable members to impart lifelike movements thereto; and flexible flaps on said wheels arranged to be thrown forward periodically as the wheels revolve.

5. A toy of the class described comprising a body member; movable members projecting from the sides thereof; an axle member extending laterally through said body; and wheels flxed to the ends of said axle member arranged to contact with and rub against the undersides of said movable members to impart lifelike movements thereto.

I 6. A toy of the class described comprising a body member; flexible movable members projecting from the sides thereof; an axle member. extending laterally through said body and wheels eccentrically flxed to the ends of said axle member arranged to contact with and rub against the under-sides of said movable members to impart lifelike movements thereto.

7. A toy of the class described comprising a body member; movable members projecting from the sides thereof; an axle member extending laterally through said body; wheels fixed to the ends of said axle member and arranged to contact intermittently with the undersides of said movable members to impart lifelike movements thereto; and flexible flaps on said wheels arranged to be thrown forward periodically as the wheels revolve.

8. A toy of the class described comprising a body member; flexible movable members projecting from the sides thereof; an axle member extending laterally through said body; wheels eccentrically fixed to the ends of said axle member and arranged to contact intermittently with the undersides of said movable members to impart lifelike movements thereto; and flexible flaps on said wheels arranged to be thrown forward pe- 

